1. Fructose is 30% sweeter than normal sugar when compered by weight:Normal sugar, also known as sucrose, is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose in equal proportion. Glucose is less sweet than fructose on weight basis.

2. Misconception:As it is the natural sugar in the fruits, it is mistaken to be healthy and less fattening. But in contrast to glucose, fructose metabolism in the body differs markedly.

Study by Kathleen A. Page et al shows that high fructose intake results in different pattern of blood flow to the specific regions of the brain, which are responsible for secreting satiety and appetite stimulating hormones. It also affects the memory and emotional response to food intake.

The Study

The study was conducted on 20 healthy adult volunteers; 10 males and 10 females. Regional cerebral blood flow in response to oral intake of 75 grams of glucose and fructose was recorded separately by arterial spin labelling MRI of brain.

Glucose and fructose, both are monosaccharaides and both form equal component of normal sugar, yet their responses in the body differ markedly. The reduced effect of fructose to satisfy satiety centrally is neither attributed to its poor perfusion through blood brain barrier, nor for want of genes responsible for its metabolism in hypothalamus.Conclusions drawn:

1. Effects of dietary glucose

i.) Reduces blood flow to hypothalamus, insula and striatum, the brain regions that control appetite and emotional responses to food intake.